320 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUXIXCJ 



fruiting. The vine is renewed back to the head as com- 

 pletely as possible each year. Fig. 273. 



This system requires slightly more material and 

 trouble in erecting the trellis, but the results secured have 

 been unexcelled by those of any other system, especially 

 in the case of strong-growing vines, while even with weak 

 growers, like Delaware, the results have been highly 

 satisfactory. 



Among the advantages of this method is the favor- 

 able position of the fruit, which cannot be soiled by spat- 

 tering of mud in heavy rains. The grapes are overhung 

 by a leafy canopy which protects them from the hot sun, 

 while a free circulation of air is secured, and they are 

 conveniently placed for spraying and gathering. A minor 

 advantage, appreciated in a private garden, is the facility 

 it affords for passing from one row to another by slightly 

 stooping and walking under the wires. The elevated 

 position of the wires and vines also greatly adds to the 

 ease of cultivating the entire ground beneath. 



226. Kniffin modifications and other systems. F. F. 

 Gladwin* discusses several modifications of the Kniffin 

 system and other systems more or less prominent in the 

 east and in growing varieties in which Labrusca "blood" 

 plays an important part. His descriptions, slightly con- 

 densed, follow (227-237). 



227. The two-stem four-cane Kniffin system is very 

 similar to the one described above, the only difference 

 being that two permanent trunks are brought up 

 from the ground, one to the -height of the lower wire, 

 where two canes are developed from spurs on one stem, 

 and tied to the wire as before ; the other stem is carried 

 to the top wire and two canes are developed from it. 

 Some vineyards tie the two stems together to make them 

 stiffen In using this method, the canes from each stem 

 may have the same number of buds, each stern being con- 

 vidcred as a distinct vine. 



* New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Circular 16. 



